Annotated Works Cited

In this video interview, Steve Scully interviews Gary Webb on his book “The Dark Alliance”. They discuss Webb’s investigation and his subsequent departure from the Mercury News, as well as the ins and outs of the Iran-Contra scandal and the War on Drugs. This source details Webb’s writing process for his book, which played a major role in the case study on Webb and his life and investigation.

This source details how the CIA managed to cover up stories of conspiracy along with Webb’s web series, while remaining in good light in the public eye. This source is another example of the types of organizations Webb was up against, and the lengths to which they would go to remain in the right. Along with that though, was the destruction of Webb and his story, along with his career in journalism.

This website is the official site for the Dark Alliance series run by Gary Webb from the Mercury News and was a journal record of his investigation into CIA ties with Nicaraguan Contra drug trafficking. The site goes deep into the details and complexities of their search and their findings. This was the beginning of Gary Webb’s dealings with this subject, and his the outlet he first began receiving ridicule for.

This source details the great lengths the CIA and other news agencies, specifically the L.A. Times, went to keep Gary Webb’s investigation quiet, and how they did their best to discredit all of his work, while simultaneously destroying his career as a journalist. This article examines the lengths to which Webb’s opponents went to keep his investigation from gaining publicity or support, and shows how meticulous and devious they were, all in the interest of saving their own reputations.

This article discusses Gary Webb’s relationship with his editor at the Mercury News Jerry Ceppos, and how after bailing on Webb’s web series “Dark Alliance”, Ceppos wrote a piece chastising Webb and his efforts on the project, and detailing Webb’s various shortcomings. This source summarizes the relationship the two shared, and how it eventually ended. The actual editorial by Ceppos, I was not able to find.

This source from The Harvard Law Today talks about the report from The Drug Policy Alliance which talks about how drug policy and law enforcement reduce the drug useage. And points out what is the real problem that exist in the U.S. society.

This article also discusses John Kerry’s investigation into CIA ties with Nicaraguan Contra drug trafficking. The article goes deeper into Kerry’s investigation detailing his tactics when presenting his case, as well as the backlash he received as a relatively new politician. This source helped to analyze Kerry’s character and how it played into his handling of his investigation.

In this research, Pat Paterson and Katy Robinson finds out how does the drug policy that corresponds to the price of drugs and the usage of drug. And examines the metrics of counternarcotics strategy in the America by following the production and trafficking of drug.

Michelle Alexander wrote a book called The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. In her book she specifically talks about African-American males being incarcerated for the most minor drug possession. The government is continuing slavery just in a different system. Black males are stuck behind bars and are getting told what to do by officers. Michelle Alexander’s Article was useful in many ways although I didn’t get to use it as much as I would have like to.

This source explains a letter that the Mercury News sent out to the public concerning their series “Dark Alliance”, and its flaws, mostly in editing and unrestrained hyperbole. These were the main sources of ridicule on the series and the letter was sent out as a sort of disclaimer for the newspaper. This is yet another piece of evidence of how Webb’s work was picked apart and stripped of credibility, this time at the hands of his own former employers.

This source is an account by a former L.A. Times writer Jesse Katz, who played a major role in the destruction of Gary Webb’s journalism career, which details his efforts to confuse Webb’s theories and shut down his investigation. This article exemplifies the harsh and unrelenting nature of Webb’s critics, and how only after Webb’s death were they able to feel any remorse for the journalist.

This is the source, by Graham Boyd, that I used for the start of my narrative. It mostly talks about how African-American males are incarcerated at a unbelievable rate. Boyd states that this is no longer a “War on Drugs”, that this has always been a “War on Poverty”. Graham brings up a major issue that felons have to face: After becoming a felon, one no longer has the right to vote. In comparison to my narrative, this particular article helps make my narrative stronger because i referred to this article a lot.

This source from the Associated Press gives a report of the US’s knowledge of Nicaraguan Contras and their involvement in drug trafficking to the United States. It details their confession of this involvement, but also their denial of having any leadership in those acts, nor any rebel leadership. This source confirms that at least part of what Gary Webb was trying to argue was, in fact, true, and that his journalism on the subject is given less credit than it is worth.

This source examines John Kerry’s involvement and interest with the CIA and their involvement in/knowledge of drug trafficking to the US with aid from rebel Contras. This article discusses Kerry’s role in these investigations and how he handled the situation, as well as how he was received by other politicians. This source was useful in understanding Kerry’s role in this narrative, and he was met when presenting these ideas.

This source examines the report from United States Drug Enforcement Administration and addresses emerging developments related to the trafficking and use of primary illicit substance of abuse and the nonmedical use of controlled prescription drugs.